URL Decode is a free tool that converts percent-encoded text, such as caf%C3%A9%20au%20lait, back into readable form. It is useful for reading long links, tracking parameters and query strings. Decoding happens in your browser.
How to decode a URL
- Paste the encoded URL or text into the left box.
- The readable version appears on the right.
- If a part is invalid, the tool points out where the problem is.
Plus signs and spaces
In query strings and form data, + means a space, so it is decoded as a space by default. If your text contains real plus signs, for example in a phone number, Base64 data or a maths expression, untickTreat + as a space.
Troubleshooting
- “Not a valid escape”: a
%isn’t followed by two hexadecimal digits. The original text probably contained a literal % sign that was never encoded. - Result still contains %XX codes: the text was encoded twice. Copy the result back into the left box to decode it again.
- Strange characters like é: the text was encoded using an old character set rather than UTF-8.
Looking inside a login token instead? Tokens starting with eyJ are JWTs; use theJWT Decoder.
Frequently asked questions
Why is + turned into a space?
In query strings and form data, + stands for a space. Untick the option if your text contains real plus signs, such as in a phone number or a Base64 value.
What does “not a valid escape” mean?
A % sign must be followed by two hexadecimal digits. A lone % (as in “100%”) is invalid in an encoded URL; it should have been written %25.
The result has strange characters like é.
The text was probably encoded twice, or with an old character set. Try decoding the result a second time.
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